ABSTRACT
In this chapter, Hazel explores the role that planning a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) has on women seeking care outside of the hospital. By initially exploring her own VBAC experience and then looking at the international rates of VBAC, Hazel focuses on the difficult journeys women face when planning a VBAC in Australia from her research on women who choose to have a homebirth after caesarean section (HBAC). From having a potentially traumatic previous caesarean, women commence the journey with information gathering about a VBAC. With this information on board, women often find opposition within the healthcare team when attempting to negotiate interventions and care options. Hazel then explores how these experiences can lead women to choose a HBAC as she weaves Sarah’s story of her own HBAC throughout the chapter.
